BY: CAROLINE ROLF
Only a decade or so ago, it was normal and necessary to have an office, perhaps a cubicle or an open-office layout. This is where meetings took place, co-workers caught up and ideally completed work. However, with technology and an Internet connection allowing us to access our work from almost anywhere, are corporate offices essential to the success of a company anymore?
Employees can work from home, coffee shops, or even while travelling nearly anywhere in the world without ever having to report to an office.
We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that office space is an inclusive environment to swap ideas and fulfill mutual goals. Our productivity is thought to be boosted, despite the lack of privacy and chatter unrelated to work. In fact, the 2013 Regus Global Economic Indicator revealed that out of 26,000 business managers across 90 countries, 48 per cent work remotely for at least half their working week.
Supporters of offices would argue that conversation and interruptions are good; after all, we come to an office to work in unison. Many offices, like the type that former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg implemented, are designed to promote transparency and fairness. Gatekeepers are eliminated and the need to make an appointment before meeting with a co-worker or supervisor becomes unnecessary. Accessibility and approachability seems nice, but what does this access really mean? This means more interruptions for the busy individuals trying to flesh out an idea or meet a deadline.
Intentional interruptions can be bothersome, but what about the constant hum of computers and casual conversations that comes with being in close quarters? Headphones can help block the noise, but music can actually hurt your performance considerably. By the end of a long workday, the commute home becomes less about reflecting and more about repairing.
There are almost 11 million Americans spending two hours or more commuting each day. An hour each way may seem reasonable, but that adds up to 10-15 hours a week in your car or on public transit. That’s like having an unpaid part-time job! Commuting can be expensive, and so is office space. “Competition for the best space in San Francisco could push rents to record highs near $100 per square foot,” reports Real Estate Inc., and the rent continues to increase.
Of course, there are some advantages to a physical office: conversation with like-minded people can offer inspiration for future work and be a nice break for the brain. An office space offers a place to focus on the task at hand and put off your social issues and noisy roommate for a few hours. There is also something about being surrounded by hardworking individuals in this environment, suddenly you feel accountable for your efforts.
We don’t need to search far to see why working from an office isn’t the best or the only option. If Michael Scott and Dilbert taught us one thing, it’s that office spaces were invented to contain employees and massive piles of paperwork at industrial organizations. The open-concept office was realized to combat stuffy cubicles, but to mixed reviews. Face-to-face contact isn’t dead, and working remotely shouldn’t halt human contact. Organizations should implement more flexible work environments, perhaps allowing employees to decide which way they work best. “Pop-up work spaces” are being introduced at convenient spots for co-workers when meetings are mandatory. Any location becomes a potential workplace: this includes a home office, the local library, or even on the road while travelling abroad. With full online transparency, your trail of technology can be followed – when you completed a phone interview, who you e-mailed, what conference you Skyped into. It can be pinpointed exactly what you’re doing, so you cares where you’re doing it from?
Image sourcing: fortune.com, unsplash.com, wsj.com